DeWitt County student, who resides in Missouri tests positive for COVID-19

Posted on March 28, 2020
Health officials continue to urge residents to take precautions. (Photo courtesy: CDC)

By Blake Haas

DEWITT COUNTY – The DeWitt County Health Department announced an out-of-state student and resident is the first case of COVID-19 in the county.

“It happens to be a little bit of a confusing case, this individual is 20-years old, his home address as DeWitt County, but he is actually a student at the University of Missouri, ” David Remmert, Administrator for the DeWitt/Piatt Bi-County Health Department said. “He has not been home (to DeWitt County), he resides there (in Missouri), he lives in an apartment, and he is self-isolating in that apartment on campus.”

Remmert said between DeWitt and Piatt Counties, 30 COVID-19 tests have been conducted, with 25 negative and five pending. Remmert added that in this particular case, the test was conducted at a drive-thru site in Missouri.

“He was never hospitalized, he went through a drive-thru testing situation there, and he drove through, was given a test, and a day later he got the results and found out that he was positive. He presented what I believe was a sore throat and a headache, so his symptoms were very mild. He has recovered from those initial symptoms, but he is isolating in his apartment.

For DeWitt and Piatt County residents who show symptoms, Remmert said individuals could only receive testing if they are hospitalized.

“Currently, the situation within DeWitt and Piatt County is that you only get tested unless you are hospitalized. They are expanding that, however, only in certain areas. For example, McLean County has a test facility that is going to be opening up at the Fairgrounds. As long as you are symptomatic, and you will be screened when you arrive there, if you are symptomatic, you can get tested. So, they are expanding testing; it’s just not in our area (DeWitt and Piatt County) just yet.”

Photos: A new COVID-19 testing center is being built at the McLean County Fairgrounds. Gov. Pritzker deployed 50 National Guard troops to put the site together. 

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected]. 

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